WHAT A GREAT FORUM...Isn't it everyone? The help, the ideas, and the experiences from others astounds me. Everyone here has so much in common with their love of plants.. It is very interesting to see how others feel and what you do... Larry b, your concern for hurting others was noticed. And yet you are discrete in sharing the truth of it all...You are a good person, as is all the rest of everyone here.. I will say this.. Everyone made me think alot about the way I view my plants. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I think my plants look great, and that's whats important. Toni will vouch for that...:-) I am sure that most of our plants feel the same about themselves too...lol When that experienced plant friend of mine came over that day and said, "most" my plants were telling me they have issues, need help, more attention to manicuring, because a "few" of their leaves were anything but perfect, some with even a little mark on them,it bothered me. He even called my soil anything but good for my tropicals, partly to blame for the way a few looked. But He didn't get me to question that one though!! I almost believed that I was not doing enough for them to look perfect, after I felt I was doing the best I could do for them, and having fun at it too.. I wanted to continue to experience the JOY of this hobby. So I came here for the right view of how our plants should look, and what each of you do to their imperfect look if any, and why? Isn't this a purpose of these forums? You have all picked me up. Encouraged me.. Showed me a balanced view. I personally LOVE to look at my plants everyday, I mean everyday.. I am one of those that does not ignore them, not for one day. I spend huge amounts of time in my plant room, everyday, because it is there where I find great peace for many reasons. I CAN and will still look past their blemishes, their defects, because beyond that, they are beautful, at least to me.. Some here have seen them. I never heard a bad thing of them, not yet anyways...lol. If there are any plants not "perfect" in shape and in every leaf color or form, it is not do to our failing our plants as my nursery "friend" suggested.. They are a reflection of our love for them, even if they have a few flaws, not manicured as often as suggested. I thought I was failing them and that their leaves were a sign of that. I am not perfect, so they will never be too I guess.. If there is a true health conditon that needs to be fixed, then I will accept. I think there is a balance between a sick plant that suffers for many reasons that we strive to find out why, and yet, as to one that just gives us an imperfect leaf or shape ,a blemished look, once in a while, no need to be overly consumed. A few of you continue to show me how to look at my plants in a balanced view, in ways I not thought of once before.I appreciate it. You are always learning something new in this hobby for sure. Yes, jeannie7 said something that really stuck a cord in me, and put a huge smile on my face. She made me see the reality of it all... To quote: "The leaves plants form are perfect...who's to say the plant doesn't know how to make a leaf according to its genes. It's the conditions that man gives the plant that causes the brown on the tips and edges. If you want to see the plant in all its splendour, then give it back to its natural home." It is the "nature" of plants, even in the outdoors, and I am going to continue to "ignore" their flawed leaves, unless it is a sign of negligance on my part..:-) I am not aiming for flawlees plants, just happy healthy ones! This is what my nursery friend should have appreciated in mine, or even his, but didn't. I guess I let his experience in nurseries almost change my view.. I hope he doesn't look at peoples flaws like this. Oh boy! Oh, just yesterday he told me he no houseplants of own..I wonder why...lol. He just asked for a couple of mine though. Why? He says they are so much more unique than the ones he sees at the nursery. What's wrong with this picture? lol I am going to agree with what Pirot girl said.... "I personally will not engage in lest it turn my pleasureable hobby into a burdensome chore which is not my idea of a pleasant hobby." Except for the insects, which I have accepted that comes with the territory and takes diligance, I find that when I do what I can for them when I can, it is a great source of joy! This is the nature of houseplants... We can do what is best to make them happy and healthy, and in turn they will do their best to make us happy too. If they show signs of pest infestation or fertilizer problems, that is a different story. But this is not what this thread I started is about. Thanks for seeing my point. Thanks, for making this encouraging forum happen.:-)

I want to thank everyone and am so glad I came across this forum too. I was diagnosed with DDD back in 1999. after being injured wrking with a child with emotional and physical disorders (god bless) they did not understand I was injured again after having surgery a disc fusion at c5-c6 which resulted in a second fusion at c6-c7. I have a bulge at c7 and at c3-c4. I am considering if I need to have another surgery I will look into the new laser surgery. I have also been diagnosed with DDD iny lower back I fell at a local store back in October in which resulted in my lower back issue and an increase in my neck and shoulder issues. I too began having numbness in my left face after the fall. I too was afraid it was a stroke and was chked for blockage and found non it seemed to slowly let up some to only increase. I am getting ready for another MRI. I have pain radiating down my arms and have arthritis in my neck back shoulders arms and hands now. I do have nerve damage in my left shoulder as well as a loose shoulder joint. I so miss wrking with the children but to high risk for me. I did apply for disability back in 2000 was denied I thought I was not ready to consider myself disabled. again I was told I needed to apply so I tried again in 2005. in the meantime I started a home business/hobby to help take care of my family. I had children at home back then. again I was denied. my doc told me I needed to apt again so I have in and applied only to be told that I was being denied and that I no longer had any disability available to me. apparently if you are not wrking they have the right to start subtracting your disability that you wrked and payed in. where it goes I do not know. Here I thought I was being a strong and good person. my advice to those of you in this same health direction don't Waite, apply. this only seemed to get worse unfortunately and as many of you said. others do not understand the daily pain we go through. and for those of us that want to fight and live, we def pay for it at the end of each day. My husband is a saint. massages me every night to help Eliviate the pain. the headaches I get are deabilitating I either end up with shots or taking a heavy med that knocks me out. some days I'm not sure what scares me more. I want to thank everyone for sharing as well as allowing me to express. it's def a lonely ace to be when those around you do not understand. I don't look for sympathy I just try to find answers and be my own advocate . I too have tried pt several different times and only find that it aggrivates and inflames . I wish you all much strength and support through this. it's sad there are so many of us with this diagnoses and unanswered questions. I am glad however that I stumbled upon this sight. Sorry for the long text! I hope this helps even one person not to end up with no support or no disability. If you would like to talk let me know and I will be happy to share my emai! I wish everyone my best! <3

But, what are some examples of "clear" neutral colors that might also have some depth? I need serious help on this, PLEASE!!! Our LR is the one I need to choose a paint color for very soon - before year end. I had chosen Blonde, but then I saw yellow might not go well with the beige and brown brick fireplace. Not sure Blonde is considered clear or muddy. I have blue and taupe furniture, a medium brown wood tone floor (no gold or red) and a red and blue darkish rug. We cannot afford new furniture and the floor was just stained and finished. Came out a bit darker than I wanted. Since I haven't picked up the rug yet I might be able to switch it out for something lighter in color. So, the rug and the walls are the only things I can change to brighten things up. I'm going SW Creamy for all my trim as I think almost anything goes with it. Chose Diverse Beige for the bedrooms. Would that one turn "muddy" in a northern room?

"Judgment & punishment are not yours, or mine, to dish out' Sylvia, you might do well to take a dose of your own medicine that you so freely dish out. You castigate people for being mean, vicious, disgusting, critical, mud-slinging, gangbanging, mob-mentality, judgemental, piling-on a$$holes. Yet *you* never miss an opportunity to get on your own "bully" pulpit to beat a dead horse with your personal biases. And you repeat it over and over and over to make sure none of us miss a single little nugget of your very important input. Pot. Kettle. Black. It is becoming predictable and frankly, more than a little hypocritical. You could do to practice a little more of that tolerance that you beat over everyone else's head. Oh, and by the way my point must have gone over your head. Kobe's wife was willing to look the other way in exchange for a high profile lifestyle which bought her a $4 million dollar ring in exchange for her standing by her man's bad behavior. Janay Rice's instagram quote: "I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like IâÂÂm mourning the death of my closest friend. But to have to accept the fact that itâÂÂs reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted options [sic] from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass of for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific. THIS IS OUR LIFE! What donâÂÂt you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, youâÂÂve succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is!" This post was edited by tally on Fri, Sep 12, 14 at 0:30